YEKEPA, Nimba County — The ArcelorMittal School System in Yekepa celebrated the graduation of forty-one students, all of whom passed the 2025/2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
By Franklin Doloquee
The graduation ceremony drew representatives from ArcelorMittal Liberia, the Superintendent of the ArcelorMittal School System, officials from the Ministry of Education and the Nimba County School System, administrators, principals, teachers, parents and guardians, members of the Board of Directors and residents of the Yekepa Community.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Ministry of Education and the Nimba County School System, Nimba County Education Officer, Francis G. Leagay, described the occasion as a great honor and privilege.
He said the day was meant not only to motivate the graduates but to celebrate their hard work, discipline, perseverance, sacrifice and achievement.
“To the graduates, I say congratulations! You have made yourselves, your parents, your teachers, your school, Yekepa and Nimba County proud,” Leagay said, calling the 100 percent WASSCE pass rate a remarkable achievement and a strong foundation for the future.
Leagay reminded the graduates that their certificates represent more than academic success; they are proof that the students set goals, stayed committed, overcame challenges and completed an important chapter of their education.
He cautioned that high school graduation is not the end of the journey but the beginning of greater responsibility.
“The world beyond this school gate will demand more from you. It will demand discipline when nobody is watching. It will demand honesty when dishonesty appears easier. It will demand courage when circumstances become difficult. It will demand humility when you achieve success,” Leagay told the graduates.
In a message titled: “Dream Beyond Your Circumstances,” he urged graduates not to let their current situation determine the size of their dreams.
“You are graduating from Yekepa, but your dreams should not stop at Yekepa. You can compete nationally, regionally and internationally,” the education officer said.
He encouraged those who cannot immediately afford university to pursue scholarships, vocational training, professional courses, or apprenticeships instead of abandoning their ambitions.
Leagay also urged graduates to be a light in their communities: inspire others as students, work with integrity as professionals, respect the law as citizens, listen as leaders, create opportunities as entrepreneurs, and return to help build the community that raised them.
On character, he warned: “Your certificates may open doors, but your character will determine what happens after the doors open. Protect your name. Protect your integrity. Respect your parents. Respect your teachers. Respect one another. Respect the laws of Liberia. Avoid shortcuts that compromise your future.”
Leagay extended special congratulations to parents and guardians, calling them the hidden heroes behind the graduates’ success. “Behind every successful graduate is a story of sacrifice. Some of you sacrificed financially, some sacrificed comfort, some encouraged your children when they wanted to give up, some prayed for them, some traveled long distances to ensure they remained in school. Today, your sacrifices have produced a beautiful result,” he said.He also commended the teachers and school administration, noting that the graduates’ success reflected instruction, preparation, supervision, discipline, mentorship, and commitment.
ArcelorMittal Liberia was recognized for its role in supporting education and human capital development in Yekepa and the wider Nimba community. Leagay encouraged continued collaboration among ArcelorMittal Liberia, the Ministry of Education, the Nimba County School System, school leadership, parents and communities to ensure quality education.
In closing, he reminded the graduates that Liberia and Nimba look to their generation for responsibility and service. “We need graduates who will not only ask, ‘What can Liberia do for me?’ but will also ask, ‘What can I do for Liberia?’ That question can transform a generation,” he said.
The ceremony ended with prayers for the graduates and a charge to go forward with confidence, character, and purpose. Also speaking, ArcelorMittal School System Principal, Juwle E. Kumeh, pledged that his administration and teaching staff will continue to support students and sustain strong public exam performance.
He noted last year’s strong pass rate and expressed confidence in achieving similar success moving forward.
Pastor Miracle C. Tarley, head of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), thanked ArcelorMittal Liberia for its continued investment in education and urged the company to consider providing opportunities for top-performing graduates to study abroad as an added advantage for Liberia’s future leaders.